The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar Hosted by Ghirardelli® Chocolate Company

Beverages:

Lasseter Family Winery Amoureux Malbec Blend, Sonoma Valley

Terra d’Oro Zinfandel Port, Amador County

Ghirardelli Drinking Chocolate

ID Requirements to Purchase Alcoholic Beverages

Guests must be 21 years of age or older to purchase alcoholic beverages at any establishment in the state of Florida—including Walt Disney World Resort and Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. Alcohol will not be served to anyone who does not present valid identification upon request. The following forms of ID will be accepted as proof of age:

U.S. state driver’s license (includes U.S. territories*)

U.S. state ID (includes U.S. territories*)

U.S. military ID

Original passport

Copy of passport (either on paper or captured on a mobile device), along with a government-issued photo ID** that verifies the person and birth date shown on the copy

Written by Dawn Caitano: Dawn creates lasting memories by planning your customized vacations all over the world. Not only does she find the BEST accommodations with the BEST value, but she will fill in all the blanks for you, all at no cost to you. Traveling is her passion! Passing that magic on to your family is what fuels that passion! So call Dawn today to start your next Adventure. Book your next vacation with Dawn at 917-494-5771 or dawn@pixiedustanddreamvacations.com

Walt Disney World Theme Parks

Magic Kingdom Park

Reminder! Early Morning Magic Extended: Earlier this year, Disney Early Morning Magic launched at Magic Kingdom Park to give eager guests the opportunity to be among the first to experience theme park attractions and breakfast inside the park. Early Morning Magic is a special ticketed event that allows guests access to select attractions and a breakfast inside the park all before park opening time. Disney Early Morning Magic been extended through September 30, 2016 for Magic Kingdom Park.

Epcot

New! Bookings Now Open for Epcot Food & Wine Festival Events: While there are plenty of events included with Epcot admission for the 21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, this year’s “premium events” include some don’t-miss options. Reservations are now open. Book via 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378), which opens at 7 a.m. each day. Go to epcotfoodfestival.com to choose your lineup.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

New! PizzeRizzo Restaurant Replacing Pizza Planet:

Pizza lovers, rejoice! PizzeRizzo will open this fall in Muppets Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, in the former Toy Story Pizza Planet location. Rizzo The Rat owns and operates the pizzeria, where guests can grab a pizza pie and a cold drink. Enjoy a casual Italian-American dining experience in a whole new way, through the eyes of the lovable, wisecracking Muppet.

New! Club Villain Returns this Fall: Due to the popularity of Club Villain, it will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this fall. Reservations have been opened for select dates beginning in September. Shows will be hosted every Friday and Saturday during September and October, with two shows performed nightly at 5:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Additionally, shows will be offered on Halloween, Monday, Oct. 31. As a reminder, Club Villain is a ticketed dining and entertainment offering held in Sunset Showcase providing a spellbinding evening for Guests to enjoy savory culinary delights from New Orleans and beyond, fiendish concoctions from the Potions Bar, meet with the villains and dance the night away.

New! Character Meet and Greet Location Changes: Goofy, Chip & Dale are located on Commissary Lane across from Writer’s Stop, while Daisy & Donald are by the main entrance in front of Sid’s porch.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

New! Surrey Bike Rentals Now Available at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort: New surrey bike rentals became available on Monday, July 18. Guest can rent single and double surrey bikes, beach cruisers and elliptical bikes at the marina between noon–8 p.m. daily.

New! First Look Inside AbracadaBar at Disney’s BoardWalk: AbracadaBar is a new cocktail lounge that will soon open for business at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. When it comes to describing this new location, “magic” is key. As the story goes, this little lounge was a former stomping ground for the famous magicians, boardwalk illusionists, and lovely magician’s assistants of the Golden Age. After a show, prestidigitators would gather to “conjure” up new cocktails, swap magic tips and tricks, and stay up all night attempting to “out-charm” each other with their extraordinary illusions. According to BoardWalk lore, it was on just such an evening that every single magician in the lounge vanished into thin air, and was never seen again … Now, after sitting vacant for nearly seventy years, the secret magician’s lounge is now back in the spotlight and making its world debut as “AbracadaBar.” Once inside, guests will get a special peek at the sophisticated social club of some of the most famous illusionists of the 20th century. While it’s rumored that the magicians who frequented the lounge vanished without a trace decades ago, their magic still remains strongly intact, and can be seen, heard, and savored in the bar’s signature cocktails.

New! The Polite Pig to Open in 2017 at Disney Springs: The Polite Pig will bring a new twist on favorite local flavors to Disney Springs when it opens in spring 2017. A sister restaurant to The Ravenous Pig of Winter Park, FL, The Polite Pig will feature a variety of wood-fired smoked and grilled items as well as an innovative beverage program that serves all drinks on tap, including locally-brewed Cask & Larder beer, wine and cocktails. The 5,000-square-foot venue will be open daily for lunch and dinner, with seating for about 200 guests.

Merchandise Events

New! Magic Kingdom 45th Anniversary Products Arriving in Fall 2016: The 45th Anniversary of Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort is only a few months away. The Magic Kingdom 45th Anniversary assortment contains a variety of apparel items for adults including short and long-sleeved shirts. Guests will also find two Dooney & Bourke handbags that will each contain a 45th Anniversary leather hangtag. There are several unique souvenirs for this celebration including a 1000-piece puzzle, a light-up ear hat ornament, an antenna topper, and a pennant with candy. The arts and collectibles team is releasing two limited edition coins – a 39mm commemorative copper coin that is presented in a custom acrylic display; and a silver plated coin in a box. Both coins will feature the Magic Kingdom 45th anniversary artwork.

Closures and Refurbishments

Click hereto view the latest renovations and closures at Walt Disney World Resort.

What’s New This Week?

Walt Disney World Theme Parks

Magic Kingdom Park

New! PinQuest Scavenger Hunt for Limited Release Pins: A new Disney pin trading scavenger hunt debuted in Magic Kingdom Park on June 30. Featuring Steampunk-inspired artwork, this Disney PinQuest starts with a purchase of an adventure kit, which contains a lanyard to showcase your pins; a decoder medal for use with PinQuest pins; and a lanyard pouch to hold the map included in the adventure kit. The lanyard pouch also holds PinQuest clue cards which are sold separately.

There are six different PinQuest clue cards. Each clue card has a question that needs answered and shared with a NavigatEAR Cast Member in a particular location. Once solved, you can redeem the clue card for a PinQuest pin using the perforated ticket on the bottom of the clue card. Continue the hunt by using the decoder medal from the adventure kit. Line up the arrows for each pin to determine your next destination within Magic Kingdom Park. After purchasing all six clue cards and receiving stamps and pins from each location, guests who have completed the entire Magic Kingdom PinQuest are eligible to purchase a QuestEAR pin completer pin.

Update! Diamond Horseshoe Open for Lunch and Dinner through Sept 10: Magic Kingdom Park guests will continue to have a table-service option for lunch and dinner at The Diamond Horseshoe through September 10. The Diamond Horseshoe is open daily, serving up a hearty, all-you-care-to-enjoy feast for Guests. As a reminder, the meal includes a salad, followed by a platter of flavorful entrees to choose from: barbecue pulled pork, sliced turkey, country smoked sausage or braised beef with all the fixin’s. Dessert is a chocolate brownie topped with a toasted marshmallow. Pricing is $33 plus tax for adults; $19 plus tax for children ages 3-9 years. Reservations are available.

Epcot

New! Taste Track Reopened With New Menu: Open daily from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Taste Track offers sweet treats in addition to a variety of soft drinks and hard sodas. This kiosk offers the following menu options:

New! 2016 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages Now On Sale: As a part of Holidays Around the World at Epcot, the Candlelight Processional presents the story of Christmas in truly spectacular fashion – with a celebrity narrator, a 50-piece orchestra and a mass choir. Celebrity narrators this year include some returning favorites like contemporary Christian music singer Steven Curtis Chapman, actors Whoopi Goldberg and Neil Patrick Harris and newcomers like legendary baseball player Cal Ripken, Jr. Here’s the list that’s been announced so far:

11/25-27 – Steven Curtis Chapman

11/28-12/1 – Neil Patrick Harris

12/2-12/3 – Whoopi Goldberg

12/4-12/12 – TBA

12/13-12/15 – Meredith Vieira

12/16-12/18 – TBA

12/19-12/21 – Joe Morton

12/22-12/27 – TBA

12/28-12/30 – Cal Ripken, Jr.

The processional is performed three times per night (5:00, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m.) during the holiday season at the American Gardens Theatre. The Candlelight Processional Dinner packages, available on select nights, include a delicious meal and a guaranteed seat for one of the Candlelight Processional performances. Availability is limited. This year, in addition to lunch and dinner packages, breakfast options are available at some favorite Epcot restaurants like Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and Garden Grill. Breakfast, lunch and dinner options are also available this year at Captain’s Grille at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, with breakfast and dinner options being offered at Trattoria Al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk.

Reminder! Sounds Like Summer Concert Series Started June 5: Enjoy another rocking rendezvous—the fun takes place at America Gardens Theatre with the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series. Featuring renditions of songs from Boston and the Eagles to covers of classics by Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen and the Bee Gees, Sounds Like Summer is a cover-band blast from the past that’s fun for the whole family. The summer concerts for the upcoming week include:

July 10-16: Bruce in the USA – A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen

July 17-23: DSB – A Tribute to Journey

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Reminder! Sneak Peek of “Pete’s Dragon” Now Playing: For a limited time starting July 1, a sneak peek of Disney’s reimagined classic “Pete’s Dragon” will be presented as part of the One Man’s Dream attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

New! Tiffins Offering a Small Plate Lunch Menu: A new lunch menu featuring a smaller portions of Tiffins’ most popular dishes debuted at the restaurant on Sunday, July 3. From 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. each day, Guests will have the option of pairing two options from the menu along with a Jade rice blend for just $28 per person, plus tax and gratuity. The Taste of Tiffins lunch menu, the options allow Guests to select from the following ten dishes: flash-fried blue mussels, black-eyed pea fritters, crispy Yellowtail Snapper, sustainable fish crudo, 72-hour beef short rib, salad of roasted baby beets, market vegetable curry, marinated grilled octopus, Chermoula-rubbed chicken, or the masa and pulled pork tamale. Guests are also able to order from the existing all-day menu.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

New! Disney Countdown to Midnight – A New Year’s Eve Celebration at Disney’s Contemporary Resort: Disney Countdown to Midnight – A New Year’s Eve Celebration at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is returning to ring in 2017 with even more excitement than last year. During this extraordinary event beginning at 8 p.m. at the resort hotel’s Convention Center, partygoers will experience the past, present and future in a myriad of magical ways. The event will boast a variety of entertainment offerings, kicking off with groovy dance music spanning from the ‘60s to today. Other musical acts such as Alter Ego will perform their extravagant music and dance-filled revue, as well as a unique musical act that will put a retro twist on songs of today. The culinary experience will feature best-of-the-best bites and wine pairings from California Grill, Flying Fish, Cítricos and Narcoossee’s. Guests will have the opportunity to view Magic Kingdom’s New Year’s Eve “Fantasy in the Sky fireworks Spectacular. Tickets will be $225 (including tax and gratuity) and can be purchased at Disneyworld.com/countdown or by calling 407-WDW-DINE beginning July 4.

Walt Disney World Resort – General

New! Additional Disney Springs Locations Now Open: The following locations are now open in Town Center:

Sugarboo & Co. is a dealer in whimsy and fine fanciful goods, from uplifting art prints to charming home goods and whimsical paper products.

Shore is a fashionable American lifestyle brand featuring swimwear, fitness wear and everyday comfort clothing, with a selection of exclusive apparel only available at Disney Springs.

Superdry features clothing with designs that fuse vintage Americana and Japanese-inspired graphics with a British style, offering products from outerwear and knitwear to leather goods and leisurewear.

Coca-Cola Store Orlando features a wide variety of Coca-Cola merchandise and a rooftop beverage bar. Guests can choose from several Coca-Cola brands from around the world, frozen beverages and over 100 drink choices via Coca-Cola Freestyle. A selection of specialty adult beverages are available in the evenings beginning July 8.

In August, Vera Bradley is releasing the lightweight Lighten Up Collection made of durable and water-resistant 560D polyester. The Lighten Up Collection will include Vera Bradley’s best-selling styles including the Lighten Up Lunch Cooler, Lighten Up Travel Organizer, Lighten Up Expandable Tote, Lighten Up Grande Backpack and Lighten Up Expandable Travel Bag.

New! ‘Words Are Powerful’ Bangles from ALEX AND ANI: ALEX AND ANI recently introduced new “Words Are Powerful” color infusion bangles inspired by Disney sayings and attributes of some of our most beloved characters. On July 18, they will continue the release of these amazing new pieces. From Elsa is a reminder to let it go and “Be True To Yourself.” Depicted on an icy blue colored charm, her iconic silhouette is framed by frozen fractals. The other uplifting bangle encourages you to “think happy thoughts,” highlighting everyone’s favorite spirited pixie, Tinker Bell! Each of these bangles costs $44.95 plus tax and will be available in both Shiny Gold and Shiny Silver finishes. They will be available online, on the Shop Disney Parks app via Shop iOS or Shop Android, and in stores at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts.

Reminder! Refillable Popcorn Buckets Offered: Between June 26 and September 1, Walt Disney World locations are offering a souvenir popcorn bucket that may be refilled throughout the day at the Walt Disney World Resort. Guests may purchase the bucket for $10 with refills available for $1.50 each. This offering is available in Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs and ESPN Wide World of Sports. The refill will be sold at all popcorn carts, but refillable buckets may only be available at select carts.

Merchandise Events

Epcot

July 12 – 15: Fragrance designer Geir Ness will be on hand for special appearances as he showcases the latest from his Laila fragrance and beauty collection. Meet Geir from Noon – 6 p.m., each day, at Puffin’s Roost in the Norway Pavilion.

July 13 – 16: As you travel around World Showcase, be sure to make a quick stop at La Signature in the France Pavilion where you’ll find the latest releases in fragrances and cosmetics from Guerlain.

Closures and Refurbishments

Click here to view the latest renovations and closures at Walt Disney World Resort.

You can savor nightly performances of the Eat to the Beat Concert Series when the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival returns to Walt Disney World® Resort Sept 14-Nov. 14, 2016. So make sure to get on over to Epcot this fall to enjoy some great food and great music. Eat to the Beat Lineup.

(Subject to change. Songs listed are for artist recognition only and may not be included in the concert play list)

Sept. 14-15 – Wang Chung NEW! “Everybody Have Fun Tonight”

Sept. 16-18 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City”

Sept. 19-20 – Air Supply “All Out of Love”

Sept. 21-23 – BoDeans NEW! “Closer to Free”

Sept. 24-25 – Fuel “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)”

Sept. 26-28 – Sugar Ray “Fly”

Sept. 29-30 – Los Lobos “La Bamba”

Oct. 1-2 – David Cook “Light On”

Oct. 3-4 – Wilson Phillips “Hold On”

Oct. 5-6 – Blues Traveler “Run-Around”

Oct. 7-9 – Plain White T’s NEW! “Hey There Delilah”

Oct. 10-11 – 38 Special “Hold On Loosely”

Oct. 12-13 – Jeffrey Osborne NEW! “On the Wings of Love”

Oct. 14-16 – Tiffany “I Think We’re Alone Now”

Oct. 17-19 – Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx “Lady”

Oct. 20-21 – Christopher Cross “Sailing”

Oct. 22-23 – Toad The Wet Sprocket NEW! “Walk on the Ocean”

Oct. 24-25 – Chaka Khan “I Feel for You”

Oct. 26-27 – Billy Ocean “Caribbean Queen”

Oct. 28-29 – Living Colour NEW! “Cult of Personality”

Oct. 30-Nov. 1 – Hanson “Get the Girl Back”

Nov. 2-3 – Soul Asylum NEW! “Runaway Train”

Nov. 4-6 – Delta Rae NEW! “Bottom of the River”

Nov. 7-9 – Boyz II Men “Motownphilly”

Nov. 10-11 – Sister Hazel “All For You”

Nov. 12-14 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy “Go Daddy-O”

Performances are 5:30, 6:45 and 8:00 p.m. daily at America Gardens Theatre, and are included in Epcot admission.

Written by Dawn Caitano: Dawn creates lasting memories by planning your customized vacations all over the world. Not only does she find the BEST accommodations with the BEST value, but she will fill in all the blanks for you, all at no cost to you. Traveling is her passion! Passing that magic on to your family is what fuels that passion! So call Dawn today to start your next Adventure. Book your next vacation with Dawn at 917-494-5771 or dawn@pixiedustanddreamvacations.com.